Madikeri, Apr 24 (IANS): A van driver was arrested for illegally carrying beef in Karnataka's Siddapura town to Virajpet in Kodagu district from Hunsur in Mysuru district, police said on Friday.

"Driver Mustafa, 42 was arrested on Wednesday at the check-post towards Virajpet in Kodagu district, as he was illegally carrying about 200kg of beef in a cargo van with vegetables for which he had permission from the local body (panchayat) at Hunsur in Mysuru district," Siddapura sub-inspector Bojappa told IANS on phone.

Siddapura is 230km southwest of Bengaluru in the southern state.

"As transporting beef is banned in Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts, the accused was arrested under sections 5, 9 and 11 of the amended Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act and seized his van with beef," asserted Bojappa.

Mustafa was, however, released from police custody on Thursday after a local court at Virajpet granted him bail on paying fine by his lawyer.

"The seized beef was destroyed and Mustafa was freed along with his van," added Bojappa.

With tight security at intra-state and inter-state borders to strictly enforce the extended lockdown and discourage the people from travelling without valid reason or pass, all personal and transport vehicles are inspected at all check-posts to prevent the virus spread.